Showa-era friendship songs: A roundup of classic oldies about friends
Even in the Reiwa era, classic Showa-era songs remain highly popular among younger generations.
With the resurgence of vinyl, many people are scouring record shops for beloved Showa hits—both famous and obscure—spanning city pop, Showa kayo, and more.
This article compiles timeless Showa masterpieces that celebrate an unchanging theme across eras: friendship in all its forms.
From well-known songs often sung in school choir competitions to hidden gems, enjoy these “friendship songs” performed by Showa-era singers and bands!
- A song themed around friendship. A track that conveys the importance of friends.
- A friendship song I want to send to my friends. A track that sings about connections with people that stay in your heart.
- A collection of friendship ballads: songs that portray bonds that resonate with the heart.
- [Chorus] Let’s all sing together! A collection of friendship songs that deepen bonds
- Hidden gems of friendship songs. Recommended popular tracks.
- A Look Back at Heisei-Era Friendship Songs Through the Hit Tracks of the 2026s: A Collection of Classics to Sing with Friends
- Fight songs from the good old days! Showa-era classics you should listen to when starting school
- Evokes the charm of the good old days. Showa-era inspirational songs that are still loved today.
- A bright song about comrades. A roundup of classic tracks that make you feel the bonds.
- [A moving friendship song] For dear friends and best friends. Songs of friendship that make you feel the bond.
- Recommended friendship songs for children. Songs about friends you’ll want to listen to with your pals.
- An emotional friendship song. A roundup of classic tracks that sing about bonds with friends and shared memories.
- Friendship songs performed by bands: A collection of classic tracks that portray bonds
Showa-era Friendship Songs: A Collection of Classic Tracks About Friends (1–10)
The season the sun gave usaoi sankakujougi
It’s a memorable song that gently embraces the joys and sorrows of youth.
With friendship as its theme, it delicately portrays the feelings of young people.
Its hopeful message—about facing forward and walking on together with friends—strikes a chord.
Released in February 1972 as Aoi Sankaku Jōgi’s second single, it was chosen as the theme song for a Nippon TV drama.
It became a major hit, earning newcomer awards and the honor of a first appearance on Kōhaku.
It’s the perfect song for looking back on memories with friends or cherishing encounters with new companions.
Why not hum along together as you reminisce about your youthful days?
My friend, don’t cry.Morita Kensaku
Among the classic Showa-era songs about friendship, Ken Sakaguchi Morita’s piece shines with a special brilliance.
Akuyu’s heartfelt lyrics and Kunihiko Suzuki’s warm melody blend beautifully, creating a song that stays close to the listener’s heart.
Released in 1972, it became a major hit, peaking at No.
2 on the Oricon charts.
Singing words of encouragement to a friend facing hardship, this song gently supports students’ friendships and those standing at life’s crossroads—truly a quintessential Showa-era anthem of friendship.
Runnerbakufū suranpu
Released in 1988 at the end of the Showa era, this song by Bakufu Slump is a national cheer anthem that transcends the boundaries of J-pop.
Beloved as a staple brass band number for high school baseball cheering, it’s likely instantly recognizable even to younger generations.
A classic in the band’s signature “youth” vein, its powerful melody—driven by a robust band ensemble and the distinctive vocals of Sunplaza Nakano, now known as Sunplaza Nakano-kun—bursts with an energy that makes it impossible to stay still just by listening.
Showa-era friendship songs: A collection of classic tracks about friends (11–20)
CheersNagabuchi Tsuyoshi
Known as one of Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi’s signature songs, this masterpiece was included on the album Kanpai, released in September 1980.
It’s a song about friendship and encouragement, often performed at life’s milestones such as weddings and graduation ceremonies.
The lyrics, which send cheers to those stepping onto a new stage in life, convey the importance of believing in love and moving forward no matter the hardships.
The re-recorded single version released in 1988 became a hit and was showcased on many TV programs, including the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen and the FNS Music Festival.
It’s a song you’ll want to sing with feelings for your friends and loved ones.
FriendOkabayashi Nobuyasu
A song that sings a cheer to a friend in the darkness before dawn.
Released by folk singer Nobuyasu Okabayashi in August 1969, this piece ignites the flames of struggle and appeals to the hope for a shining tomorrow.
It features a simple yet moving melody and a message imbued with wishes for friendship and peace.
At the 1969 All Japan Folk Jamboree, it was so popular that all participants joined in a chorus.
Against the backdrop of student and anti-war movements, it won broad support and is also known as a theme song of left-wing movements.
It’s a recommended track for those who want to feel the importance of friendship and of holding on to hope.
Goodbye, my friend.Morita Doji
This is a song that pierces the heart with Morita Doji’s clear, translucent voice and lyrics steeped in the sense of lost youth.
Included on her debut album “GOOD BYE,” released in October 1975, the track is inspired by the death of a friend she experienced in high school.
Featuring striking acoustic guitar accompaniment, it delicately captures the feelings of young people influenced by the student movements of the 1970s.
Its lyrics, centered on friendship and farewell, gently embrace emotions that are universal to everyone.
It’s a recommended piece for those who cherish memories of their youth and reminisce about friends they have lost.
Good FriendKikuchi Momoko
Released in June 1986, this song showcases Momoko Kikuchi’s charm to the fullest, with her pure and earnest aura shining through.
Its tender, bittersweet lyrics centered on friendship blend beautifully with a sophisticated melody that carries elements of city pop, leaving a deep impression on listeners.
Included on the album “ADVENTURE,” the track remains one of Kikuchi’s signature songs and enjoys enduring popularity among fans.
While depicting the friendships and farewells of youth, it also conveys a message filled with gratitude and hope—making it a perfect song for reminiscing about memories with friends or for feeling the bonds with someone dear.